LPPC Elevates 68 Lawyers to Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rank, One of the Largest Batches in the Award's History

The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved one of the largest single batches of Senior Advocate of Nigeria appointments in the rank's fifty-year history, and the legal community has not stopped talking about it since.

The Announcement

The elevation was approved at the LPPC's 174th Plenary Session, held in Abuja on Thursday, July 23, 2026, and chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The final list carries 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, who becomes the sole scholar recognised in this year's exercise. The names, ranked by seniority at the Bar, are led by Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu, Esq., followed by Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor, Godwill Achibong Umoh, Sunday Samuel Obende, and Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe, among the 68 total.

Getting here was not automatic. The committee had shortlisted 77 advocates and 12 academics earlier in the process, opening a window for public comments on each candidate's integrity, reputation, and competence. By the time the dust settled, 10 advocates and 11 academics had been dropped from their respective lists.

A Record Year, Almost

Conferment is officially capped at fewer than 30 advocates a year, but that ceiling has been stretched considerably in recent cycles. Fifty-seven lawyers made the cut in 2023, another 57 in 2025, and now 68 in 2026, one of the largest single-year batches since the rank was first introduced in 1975. Four women feature on this year's list: Soibi Ideriah Ovia, Igonikon Abiola Adekunle, Olujoke Enitan Alius, and Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Adekunle.

What Happens Next

A letter from the LPPC does not mean anyone can start signing court papers as SAN just yet. Every successful candidate must first complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme, a mandatory step set by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). The formal swearing-in ceremony has been fixed for Monday, October 12, 2026.

Why It Matters

For law students and young lawyers tracking the profession's highest bench of achievement, this year's list is a reminder of how competitive, and increasingly inclusive, the path to SAN has become. With four women on the list and one of the largest cohorts ever confirmed, 2026 may end up being remembered as a turning point year for the rank.

Congratulations to all 68 appointees. Thrive will be watching for the full induction and swearing-in coverage come October.